Kings County Biographies
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ATTILIO PIA.
Among the citizens of Kings county who have earned a creditable
reputation and have distinguished themselves by right and honorable living is
Attilio Pia, who, though of foreign birth, has contributed in a definite way to
the prosperity of this community. He is a native of sunny Italy, born on the
14th day of November, 1884, a son of Ilario and Rose Pia, both of whom are still
living in their native land, where the father follows farming.
Attilio Pia was educated in the schools of Italy and at the age of
seventeen years came to the United States, arriving here with a cash capital of
thirty dollars, but handicapped by a complete ignorance of the language of this
country. He first went to South Trinidad, Colorado, where he obtained employment
in the coal mines, at a daily wage of one dollar and seventy-five cents. He was
ambitious, and during this period he also attended school and learned the
language. After fifteen months in the mines Mr. Pia came to San Francisco,
California, and for eight months was employed in a quarry. Until 1913 he was
variously occupied around San Francisco and Oakland and then came to Hanford and
for a time was employed as a farm hand and in a packing house. In 1915 he
started to learn the baking trade under Samuel Adams, with whom he remained for
six years. In 1921 Mr. Pia engaged in the baking business on his own account and
his undertaking has been rewarded with a success even exceeding his
expectations. He has built a fine, modern brick building, in which his bakery is
equipped with the most improved electric machinery. He turns out a product that
has won favor with the most discriminating class of people and he and his two
helpers are kept busy supplying the rapidly increasing demand for his products.
The business is largely wholesale and in the management of his plant Mr.
Pia has shown himself a business man of more than ordinary sagacity and sound
judgment. Courteous and accommodating, he has won the respect and esteem of the
public and is numbered among the enterprising and successful citizens of
Hanford.
Mr. Pia was married to Miss Adalaine Virango, a native of Italy, and
they are the parents of two children : Louis and Mary. Politically Mr. Pia gives
his support to the republican party and takes a deep interest in the public
affairs of his adopted country, of which he has proven himself a worthy citizen.
Source: History of Tulare County and Kings County, California � Kathleen
Edwards Small & J. Larry Smith, Vol. II, Chicago, The S. J. Clarke Publishing
Company, 1926.
p. 588
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler